​6 Things To Do After The Whole30 To Keep The Weight Off For Good

So you’re thisclose to , a super-popular eating plan that focuses on loading up on veggies alongside and proteins (and eliminating grains, dairy, and soy) for 30 days. But you’ve probably heard the stories of people who’ve done it, lost weight, gained more energy, and then went right back to their old habits. As you might have guessed. That won’t lead to any long-lasting change, friends.

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"It pretty much goes without saying that if you jump right back into your old habits—skipping meals, consuming too much sugar and alcohol, sleeping poorly—then you're not going to feel all that amazing," says Jessica Beacom, R.D.N., co-founder of The Real Food Dietitians. Plus you'll have missed the point of the Whole30, which is to identify the foods and behaviors that will help you feel your best. “The Whole30 wasn't designed to be a test of willpower, it's a tool for creating lifelong change and habits that are sustainable and highly individualized to each person,” she adds.

Hear that? She said sustainable. So rather than looking at it like something that’s over, here’s how to keep the good body vibes going:

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Before you nosh on your last meal and declare victory, you should be thinking ahead to life after Whole30. You may have noticed you had stomach issues that vanished after you stopped eating gluten or dairy, for instance. So be mindful of how you reintroduce food, advises Diana Rodgers, R.D., a consultant for the Whole30 and the owner of Radiance Nutritional Therapy. Take one food, introduce it, and then wait for three days before moving onto the next food. That way, you’ll be able to ID what foods bother you, and you can decide if you want to avoid it moving forward.

Related: 'I Stopped Eating Eggs For 2 Weeks—Here's What Happened'

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Alyssa Zolna

One of the brilliant things about Whole30 is that it often gets people cooking with new dishes and ingredients. Keep riding that momentum! “Set aside some time at the end of each week to create a meal plan that includes recipes for three or four meals for the coming week,” advises Beacom. She recommends Real Plans, a service that creates custom meal plans for you based on how many people you're feeding and your eating plan. Through that service, you can search Whole30 recipes and quickly create a menu and shopping list. “Pairing this with a grocery delivery service like Instacart makes it even easier to plan, prep, and cook healthy and delicious meals,” she says. Though it's pricier than doing it yourself, you’re way more likely to follow through when it's easy.

Since you’ve been avoiding sugar for the past 30 days, you’ll be shocked the next time you take a bite out of a cupcake. “You’re more sensitive to sweet,” explains Rodgers. It will almost be unpalatable. So here’s the thing, you don’t want to go back to eating tons of the sweet stuff, especially if you worked this hard already. Stop and think about what your body is really asking for. You may now be satisfied by the first few bites of ice cream. Honor that rather than finishing the entire scoop just because you can.

Related: What’s Worse For Your Bod: Sugar Or Salt?

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One of the main downfalls coming off the Whole30 is simply shifting back to your previous way of eating. Rather than reverting back, aim to have two meals a week where you have whatever fun foods you like, says Rodgers. “It’s okay to enjoy a birthday celebration or family dinner—don’t feel guilty about that," says Rodgers. "Understand that it’s a treat and don’t let that be an excuse to go off the rails."

Related: 6 Whole-30 Approved Tricks That Will Help You End Food Guilt

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Rodgers loves the book by Melissa Hartwig, who co-created Whole30, because it’s a great guide for life after the 30 days. She also loves following recipes in and the forthcoming because almost all of the food is Whole30 compliant.

(Get the secret to banishing belly bulge from WH readers who've done it with )

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“You can always go back to the Whole30 if you find your 80/20 life has turned into 50/50,” says Rodgers. If you ever need it, you’ve got the know-how to try again.

Jessica MigalaJessica Migala is a health writer specializing in general wellness, fitness, nutrition, and skincare, with work published in Women’s Health, Glamour, Health, Men’s Health, and more.

Video: Whole30 Diet Review – Before & After Has Us Shook!

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